Former Colo. assistant fire chief dies from job-related cancer

By FireRescue1 Staff

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — A former assistant chief of operations at a Colo. fire rescue died Monday morning from job-related cancer.

Former South Metro Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Troy Jackson, 51, died from adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare form of cancer he was diagnosed with in 2013, the agency announced.

“Despite the physical and emotional challenges of his illness Chief Jackson triumphed as a phenomenal leader and mentor and will be remembered as such,” the agency said in a statement published to social media.

https://www.facebook.com/SouthMetroPIO/photos/a.10150174342352020/10157960170722020/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAzuPEdo3aybpz8K7OTDd2VRXohaghuaSYBGGvR5rfViQ79g8JC7NVDwyCbyUWPKcPofp6hyDKbUuOk-4eREEKlMxLdwLK3_nQ4RVJ8fIRu0z9AArG6_wynpQDLDMSfkmRf74RYr2BeAw__GFas-pjKtVMC6sFTyKu3rnpJS1bE2FYsSHRFJliJ-PLD_oHMBW_H0YIf5LcH31Ke-XUC8V-npM201lXGdNonV0_gKRAFbhOj8GW0XHGGiFugXpYJ8_O9dtQ3ibh7X-loJnw20xw1o8JCVJb61QQIRUYcSQjcZ5tTTIFDzzVzy6wqCWXiItZmWBTO2prJ5h7kli9X&__tn__=-R

Jackson began his career as a firefighter in 1990 and was promoted to assistant chief of operations in 2016. Jackson stepped down from his position in August due to health reasons, the agency said.

The South Metro Fire Rescue Honor Guard performed dignified honors at a procession for Jackson at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital on Sunday night and will stand on an honor watch for 24 hours until his memorial service.

https://www.facebook.com/SouthMetroPIO/posts/10157961664362020?__xts__[0]=68.ARASXlKoEUMmJPRyrYfSFhLsPyxUoz2JCAi5KhgnzPWfWM1_f5GAyL77YXTT7TQIT_dtrjbeItp5Rm073oCg3nTHjl7IZWONqJ_EYinT0otncLXmPSWD8JeQiJ0viGp3B6rzSciHnjoH_pSOQ8zhhldVulTdmGZc7-FSscAcI2zchI13kqfeHEnKGLSHSeKy7g_gswTwCkt1G989ZGQNA3WKH7-vlWglWn71rlBtRRlfnLzj5u5pSSZX1DPVCJnl_fx6oBFRI9EeDAPrYtWVdy3Rt3hvpHveGylIbJ_Ur63Qw3iKEx1ZSn9xSjkcPV_xx9yt0m0B5JxMzngANhAv&__tn__=-R

“We don’t know the number of lives Chief Jackson touched as a firefighter, but we know it was many,” the agency wrote. “His legacy will live on as SMFR continues to make health and safety improvements to reduce the exposure that personnel have to cancer-causing carcinogens during their daily responsibility of protecting the community.”

Jackson is survived by his wife, two children and a daughter-in-law.